Naya Rivera’s Mother Used to Clap Back at Internet Trolls
Naya Rivera and her mother were very close. Here’s what the Glee star said about her mom and the sweet way she tried to protect Rivera from Internet trolls.
Naya Rivera’s career was managed by her mother during the early years
In her book, Sorry Not Sorry, Rivera said her mother worked hard to make sure she had everything she needed to succeed in the entertainment industry. She helped Rivera get the right outfits and purchase tools she needed to look the part for auditions.
Make no mistake, though: Mom was no mere momager. She was a badass, and really good at her job. She took my auditions very seriously and considered every detail when helping me look the part. We made a lot of trips to TJ Maxx, where we’d dig through the racks until my mom found exactly what I needed. She also invested in makeup and props.
I had a mole on my chin that we’d sometimes cover up using this thick, creamy makeup that was invented for burn victims to use to cover scars (to this day, I still use it for contouring), and we got really expensive flipper made—fake teeth that we could plug in when a real one fell out.
Naya Rivera in ‘Sorry, Not Sorry’
Naya Rivera said her mother clapped back at Internet trolls
During an interview with E! News, Rivera said she used to look online to see what viewers were saying about her Glee performance. She also revealed her mother would go online and respond to people who made negative or inaccurate statements.
“My mom is hysterical,” Rivera told E! News. “She’ll go on a blog or something and find that someone said something, and she will post things. She’s gone too far. She will post things like the correct information underneath it. She’s so cute. I was like, ‘Mom, you know like once it gets to a certain point, you’re not going to be able to go back and do all the dirty work anymore.’”
Naya Rivera credits her mother with helping her get her first big TV role
In 1991, Rivera got her first big acting break when she was cast in the television series The Royal Family. Rivera said her mother’s persistence helped her get the role. During her time on the series, she developed a close relationship with co-star Redd Foxx.
Mom’s diligence (and my hard work, of course) paid off, and at age five I landed my first television role on CBS’ The Royal Family. I honestly don’t remember the audition, but when I heard that I got it, I bet you could hear me scream all the way in San Diego.
Created and executive produced by Eddie Murphy, the show was a family comedy that starred Redd Foxx and Della Reese as a retired couple who are forced to deal when their daughter and three grandchildren move in with them. I played the youngest grandchild, Hillary, and Redd Foxx and I were intergenerational BFFs from the moment we met.
Naya Rivera in ‘Sorry, Not Sorry’
Read more: Naya Rivera Said Ariana Grande’s 2015 Grammy Photos Have 1 Problem
Follow Sheiresa Ngo on Twitter.
